Haggai. Just two little chapters. A bit over two pages in my Bible. God manages to pack some bigtime TRUTH into those few words (He usually does, doesn’t He? :) )
To understand what He is communicating to us in this book, we are going to look at it in four parts: 1) the background 2) the problem 3) the solution 4) the application. Here goes:
1) The background
Perhaps your Bible has an introduction for each book and you may have already learned the background for Haggai. After Jerusalem had been seized by the Babylonians and most of the Jews were in exile, the Medes/Persians then took over the Babylonians. (539 BC). Shortly after that, King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and they began rebuilding. Progress was slow: opposition from without and within hindered the reconstruction, particularly of the Temple. God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the people out of this delay.
2) The problem
The problem was not merely that the rebuilding was delayed. The problem was not even the description in verses 4- 6 ,9 of chapter 1 - Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now therefore consider how you have fared (or: consider your ways). You have sown much and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them in a bag with holes. You have looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while you busy yourself each with his own house. The problem was that God’s people were preoccupied with their own glory instead of the Lord’s.
They were so complacent in fact that even their obedience was lackluster. 2:14 explains So it is with this people and with this nation before me, says the Lord; and so with every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.
3) The solution
Haggai does not berate nor condemn his people for their weak obedience or even their self-centeredness. Although he does rebuke them, mainly what he does is to exhort them to move into wholehearted obedience. in 2:4, God speaks through Zerubbabel with a clear message: But now, take courage…take courage and work. God rouses them from their lackadaisical attitude and tells them to get to work. He urges them to remember what the temple was like in its former glory (v. 3) , He reminds them that He is with them (v. 5) and He encourages them with what is to come (2”6-9) For thus says the Lord of hosts: once again in a little while I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake the nations so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.
4) The application
What does this little book mean for us? How do we apply its truth? Well, I believe God is telling us way more than “give to a building campaign”!
His message is much bigger than that - it is the same one found in I Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, let him speak as it were the utterances of God; whoever serves let him do so as by the strength which God supplies so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
In other words, seek the glory of God above all. In everything we do. Let our purpose and strength be to reveal the glory of God.
Practically speaking, what does this mean?
If we find ourselves frustrated or unfulfilled or even depressed, perhaps the reason is that we have spent our resources (time, gifts, money and energy) seeking comfort and security and pleasure from things that cannot deliver - the things of the world. If we have occupied ourselves mainly with mundane things (eating/drinking, entertainment - even “harmless” things, earning a living) instead of building up the kingdom, using our gifts and resources in ministry to the Body of Christ, then we should not be surprised that we feel dissatisfied
Maybe we feel that we have been pursuing His glory, we have been serving Him with our gifts, building His Kingdom. For a long time! And we feel tired and discouraged and unmotivated. Perhaps we even doubt we are making a difference - is it even worth it? Are we even making a difference?
The book of Haggai is just what we need.
FIrst of all, God confronts the discouragement of the people with a heartening command in verse 4: "Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work." He is imploring them to NOT see their work as so trivial or insignificant that they might as well stop. Instead, He says, take heart and work!
Work, God says, "Work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit abides among you; fear not." . Let us remember first of all that our work is not insignificant because He is with us!
Furthermore, He is in our hearts, encouraging us. Look back at the end of 1:13. "I am with you, says the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord." The same God who worked in King David and King Solomon to build the first temple, the same God who worked in Haggai and Zechariah, this same God is at work in us, the Body of Christ, where the Holy Spirit of God now dwells. Even if the work seems mundane to the world, if we ask Him, He will work in our hearts and give us a passion and a love for whatever He has called us to do. Even if it’s cleaning bathrooms and wiping little noses!
And, finally, dear sisters, the best is yet to come!
For thus says the Lord of hosts: once again in a little while I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake the nations so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.
Be strong and courageous. Don’t be discouraged. We are doing important work because God is with us and He is displaying His glory. AND God promises to take our work - anything we do that is for His glory - and multiply our labor beyond what we could ask or imagine. One day, one latter day, the glory of what we are building now will be revealed.
I Corinthians 3:8-10 - Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers, you are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder, I laid a foundation and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it.